Esha Singh wins gold, Manu Bhaker takes bronze in 25m pistol at ISSF WC Hangzhou
Synopsis
India's pistol shooters pulled off a stunning double at Hangzhou — Esha Singh, 21, clinched gold with 40 hits just months after setting senior and junior world records in Munich, while Paris 2024 double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker battled through a shoot-off to claim bronze. Two of India's finest shooters on the same podium, with the World Championships and Asian Games still ahead.
Key Takeaways
Esha Singh won gold in the women's 25m pistol at the ISSF World Cup, Hangzhou on 27 July , registering 40 hits in the final.
Manu Bhaker claimed bronze with 28 hits after surviving a shoot-off in the same final.
Manu led qualification with 586-20x ; Esha was second with 585-18x .
Esha, 21 , from Hyderabad , set both the senior and junior world records with 43 hits at the Munich ISSF World Cup earlier this season.
Manu is the first athlete from independent India to win two medals at a single Olympic Games (Paris 2024).
Rahi Sarnobat narrowly missed the final, shooting 582-16x in qualification.
Esha Singh claimed gold and Manu Bhaker secured bronze in the women's 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun in Hangzhou, China on 27 July, delivering a landmark double podium for India and extending the country's strong medal run at the competition.
How the Final Unfolded
Esha produced a composed, commanding display in the eight-woman final, registering 40 hits to finish atop the podium. Manu, the Paris 2024 double Olympic medallist, navigated a fiercely contested final that went to a shoot-off, ultimately ending with 28 hits to claim the bronze.
The foundation had been laid in qualification, where Manu topped the standings with 586-20x and Esha followed closely with 585-18x, both comfortably advancing to the medal round. Former Asian Games gold medallist Rahi Sarnobat narrowly missed the final with 582-16x, while Simranpreet Kaur Brar (576-20x) and Abhidnya Ashok Patil (573-16x) competed under Ranking Points Only (RPO) status.
Esha Singh: Carrying the Weight of a World Record
The 21-year-old from Hyderabad acknowledged that her record-breaking gold at the ISSF World Cup in Munich earlier this season had raised the stakes considerably heading into Hangzhou. 'This match was very pressure-riding for me because of the previous medal I had. The better you get in your event, the more you feel that weight of prestige you have to conquer. I'm happy that I was able to get past it today and grateful that I had the ability to endure it,' Esha said.
She also pointed to her familiarity with the Hangzhou venue as a factor. 'I really love competing here in Hangzhou. Recalling how the competition went during the Asian Games, where I won four medals, I was really excited to come back. Being familiar with the range, the lighting, and the atmosphere in the final hall definitely counted in my favour,' she added.
The gold builds on an already historic season for Esha. At the Munich World Cup, she set both the senior and junior world records with 43 hits in the final. A Paris 2024 Olympian and Arjuna Awardee, she has rapidly established herself among the world's leading pistol shooters.
Manu Bhaker: Building Towards the Big Events
For Manu, the bronze was less about the podium finish and more about the process. 'This medal is very important because it acts as a stepping stone. It gives me clarity on what is working and the direction I want to head in. While the medal surely boosts my confidence, the experience I gained from this competitive match will help even more as we look ahead to major assignments like the World Championships and Asian Games,' she said.
The result reinforces Manu's exceptional consistency on the world stage. At Paris 2024, she made history as the first athlete from independent India to win two medals at a single Olympic Games.
What This Means for Indian Shooting
The Hangzhou double podium arrives at a significant moment for Indian shooting, with the World Championships and the next Asian Games cycle firmly in view. India's pistol shooters have now demonstrated the depth to field multiple podium contenders in a single event — a marker of structural strength, not just individual brilliance. With Esha peaking and Manu recalibrating after her Olympic heroics, the trajectory heading into the next major cycle looks encouraging.
Point of View
And the qualification scores suggest this was not a fluke. The more telling detail is Manu's framing of a bronze medal as a 'stepping stone' rather than a destination — that mindset, from someone who has already won Olympic doubles, signals a shooter recalibrating deliberately rather than coasting on reputation. Esha's candid admission about pressure is equally significant: at 21, she is already managing the psychology of a defending champion, not just the mechanics of shooting. If both maintain this trajectory, India's pistol programme enters the next Asian Games cycle with a genuine one-two that rivals any team in the world.
NationPress
27 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold in the women's 25m pistol at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou?
Esha Singh won gold in the women's 25m pistol final at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou on 27 July, registering 40 hits in the eight-woman final. She topped the podium ahead of Manu Bhaker, who claimed bronze with 28 hits after a shoot-off.
How did Manu Bhaker perform at the ISSF World Cup Hangzhou?
Manu Bhaker won bronze in the women's 25m pistol event, surviving a shoot-off to finish with 28 hits in the final. She had topped the qualification round with a score of 586-20x, the highest among all competitors.
What records has Esha Singh set in 2025?
Esha Singh set both the senior and junior world records in the women's 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Munich earlier this season, registering 43 hits in the final. She followed that up with a gold medal performance in Hangzhou.
Why is Manu Bhaker historically significant in Indian sport?
Manu Bhaker is the first athlete from independent India to win two medals at a single Olympic Games, having claimed two bronze medals at Paris 2024. Her Hangzhou bronze continues a run of consistent podium finishes on the world stage.
Which other Indian shooters competed in the 25m pistol event in Hangzhou?
Rahi Sarnobat, a former Asian Games gold medallist, narrowly missed the final with a qualification score of 582-16x. Simranpreet Kaur Brar (576-20x) and Abhidnya Ashok Patil (573-16x) also competed but did so under Ranking Points Only (RPO) status.
